April 11, 2011 Letter

Dear Family,

It´s my first P-day in Brazil. It´s been good so far.

I´ll tell you a little about what happened the last couple days. Wednesday after I emailed you we went back to the airport and registered with the police so they dont kick me out. Then went to our apartment, it has two stories, two rooms, and i dont know what else to say about it. It´s good. Some people were renovating it so it´s a lot nicer than it was before.

Thursday we really started to work. We´re opening the area in Setubal 2. There has only been 1 baptism in the last 4 months so it was closed recently. So it´s tough. We are trying to visit the members, especially those in nice buildings, so we can get referrals. Oh ya, the buildings are really different here. Everyplace has a gate and a lock. So you cant really just go and knock on somebody´s door. You can try to clap to get their attention, but usually if they´re not expecting you you cant really do much. So, thats kinda a bummer, but its ok. Thats pretty much how our week went. Walking around trying to find investigators, talking with members, and doing that over, and over, and over.... But it´s good. It really is.

Hmm, I guess i can tell you more about my companion now that i know him a little bit. His name is Elder Paiva. He is 26 years old from Sao Paulo. He has spent almost half of his mission in the mission office. He was a secretary for 6 months, and an AP for 4 months. So, he´s like the best. But ya, i get the best missionary to train me.

Hmm, the city?? It´s beautiful! So pretty! I love it! Every where you look there is green. Trees, bushes, plants of some sort. It´s gorgeous. The clouds are amazing here. Just poofy clouds almost all the time. And the beach.... Oh man! It´s so cool. We had lunch at a members home on beach. She lived on the 16th floor of a building, and had a great view of the ocean. It was awesome.

But, there are some gross things about it. Not, gross, just..... different. The trash, is pretty much all over the place. People just through it on the side of the road. I´m still trying to figure out how that system works.... The favelas are gross too. Their living conditions are really bad. The other day we walked through one and i saw a little boy naked, just running around. It´s so sad. They have like nothing.

The word of wisdom is different here i guess..... E Paiva said that we can drink all tea except one, and all coffee except one.... I dont know if i understood him right or what, but that was kinda weird. I havnt tried any so far, that i know of....

Hmm, the money here is 1 us dollar to 1.6 Reais. The money looks pretty cool. The different bills have animals on them. I´ll send you pictures.

About sending stuff.... E Paiva said that on the outside of the box you should write what is inside.
For example....
Missionary Supplies.. $3
Candy... $2
Clothes.. $6

He said that they charge import taxes or something if the total is over $20, $25 bucks. So be careful about that. Also, he said it helps if you put Jesus stickers on it. Just so people wont steal it, and it´s less likely to be charged for taxes and such. Also, if you do send something expensive, hide it in a poptart box or something. Because they might check inside for things, and it´s just better if you hide it somehow.

Ya.... So the address here is    (I think, and hope)
Rua Sao Franciso, 110/102
Paissandu - Recife - PE
52010-020
Brazil

But ya, life´s good here.

Bye